It seems that without some mystery to ponder we may be like a ship too close to a dark foggy shore lacking a lighthouse. If I squint hard enough maybe Ill see it before the crash.

Quoting: Jesse Sovoda

It's your ancient secret ("deep, dark", as it would be said).

It's one of those things that we don't want to think about. As it implies that we would not exist. Indeed, it is the thing we don't want to consider. Only in an abstract way, perhaps.

It's something I've covered at length so the basics are no secret for me. Only the practical applications.

If you cannot perceive of something directly then what are you actually perceiving?

Quoting: Chaol

You'd be perceiving an inferential experience?

I think that that inference is made by our intent and is subject to the logic in the system by which we perceive. We are basically choosing what we experience at all times. It's just that on the most basic level we (as we currently can perceive our sense of self) do not exist. Am I off?

Quoting: Jesse Sovoda

No intent is needed.

If we experience what is most relative (or seem to) then what choice is there?

You'd be choosing something that not only all ready exists but does not really exist.

This is a longer discussion, as it gets into questions like "what about decisions?" and such.

If you're up for it, let me know.

Quoting: Chaol

Thank you. I am up for it.

I had perceived decisions to be the execution of "choice". I had also assumed that choices are based on the information we have "acquired" on the current experience within the decision space that the logic allows.

In that way I assumed that the ability to "choose" anything defined "free will" and I also assumed all this was fundamental to our "ability" to perceive (at the level we do "perceive").